Best way to clean tile floors and grout

For meticulous cleaning, you need to know how to properly clean tile floors and get between the grout lines. You can easily do this at home to keep your tiles sparkling clean always.

When coming up with a cleaning routine, you need to slot in time for scrubbing tile floors and grout. Actually, this is one of the most important things to know because unclean tiles and grout can really be an eye sore. Grout lines also easily absorb grime, dirt and other small microscopic bacteria that might be harmful to your health if they continue building up.

Generally, washing your tile floors and grout with a cleaning detergent should do the trick. If you go ahead and scrub away, you are better off as your floors will definitely be cleaner. However, if you are looking to go all in and have tile floors and grout that sparkle even with time, there are a few things you can do.

This article has reviewed one of the best ways to clean your tile floors and grout. It has also included two alternatives so that even the most stubborn stains are dealt with. Read Here: Bissell multi reach cordless review

Method 1- Using vinegar and baking soda

This method involves you making a paste of all the ingredients then giving the tiles a hard scrub. Here are the steps:

First, make a fine paste by mixing baking soda and water. To get the right consistency, mix 3 parts of baking soda with 1 part of water in a bowl.

Once done, get right to it and apply this paste to the tile floors. For the grout, apply it onto the grout lines with your finger (gloved preferably). Next, dilute white vinegar with water in a spray bottle. For good results, mix 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar. Spray this solution on the paste you had already applied to the troublesome areas.

Natural bubbles will start forming. This is because the cleaning process has started. Vinegar and baking soda are not harmful to the skin but you might get some scratches or irritation if you do not work with gloves on. The grout and baking soda can become quite abrasive.

Let the bubbling continue for a few minutes as this is a chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda to help cleaning. Once it stops, the chemical cleaning is done. Now all you need to do is scrub thoroughly. To clean the grout lines, you can use a toothbrush or a nylon bristled brush. If you are working on a small area and you are a perfectionist, go for the toothbrush. With both, make sure you really scrub the edges and corners that are often overlooked. With every scrub you will be amazed at the turnout.

After scrubbing, rinse off the floor with plain water and pass a mop through it. Use enough water to make sure all the vinegar and baking soda residues are washed away. Rinse your mop often so that you do not spread the residue to already clean areas. Do this throughout so that you get stellar results.

To begin with, you need a properly steam cleaner. You can either purchase one from an authorized dealer or rent one. Because they can be a tad expensive, you can start off with renting while you work your way into investing in one. A regular home improvement store is bound to have many of these for renting or buying. Whichever you settle on, make sure it is properly assembled with all the attachments for cleaning grout included. If it comes unassembled, closely follow instructions on the manual.

Once you have the steam cleaner ready to use, fill it with clean water. Turn the steam cleaner on and wait while the water heats up. Usually, a 5 minute wait is enough before you start cleaning. When you have enough steam build up, pass the cleaner through the tiles and grout. Closely watch as it lifts grime off the floors leaving them cleaner.

Method 3- Using oxygenated bleach

If the first two methods do not give you satisfactory results, consider using oxygenated bleach.

First, dissolve 3 tablespoons of bleach into 3 cups of water. Mix this solution thoroughly so that the bleach is fully oxygenated. Activating the oxygen in bleach is important so that it is harsh enough on tiles and grout.

Second step it to test a small area because some bleaches can cause discoloration. If you are sure the solution is safe to use, pour it onto the grout and floor area and begin scrubbing.

Work on small areas as you slowly progress. This is a safety measure. When you are done with scrubbing, rinse off the entire area with a lot of water and wipe off any residue. Read Here: Best vacuum for tile floors

Safety Tips

Remember that vinegar is a rather harsh element that can be harmful to natural stones. If you want to clean limestone or marble, test with a small part first.

Also remember to work with gloves no matter which method you settle for. Tile floors and grout often harbor all sorts of dirt that you would not want to be in contact with.

A bonus pointer is that if you are working with deep stains, make sure you take your time and put in a little more elbow grease. Use a nylon bristled brush or a toothbrush for the best results as well. The extra effort will be well worth it.

Conclusion

To take care of your tile floors and grout, there are a few things you can do to maintain their shine. All you need is a few cleaning pointers and a gentle hand. This guide has illustrated on which cleaning tools and products to use. No matter which method you settle for, these techniques will keep your tiles and grout looking new and fresh.